my letter to the senators of virginia

one night i sat on a bus in chicago 

with my grandparents, republican, catholic

(i sat in the hotel bed trying to drown out the o’reilly factor every night)

suddenly he got on the bus with his brother, the virginia boy

my new york mouth curled up into a smile,

my connecticut grandparents striking up a conversation with his brother

who i now remember, thought was more attractive at the time

after a few days, my grandparents were happy that i had someone

who would eat breakfast with me on my way to camp

after a few days, my grandparents left

and i thought i wouldn’t need to hide those magazines anymore

the ones i bought in the airport

after a few days, my father came

and he was happy that i had someone to eat dinner with

after my day at camp

and after we ate dinner, for the first time in my life

my lips learned what soft pink virginia tasted like

loudly lapping against my chapped new york smile

his arms around my body as i trembled with fear

his voice in my ear telling me that everything was going to be okay

after a few days, i said goodbye to virginia and sat in the bathroom

crying

after a few days, i left chicago

after a few months, i found a girl

after a few weeks, we began to date

and now i’m in love

but i won’t forget virginia’s lips 

and someday i hope that another man 

will learn what soft pink virginia tastes like

after they recite their vows